AQW 51428/11-16 Written question to the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety
To ask the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety for his assessment of the average hourly rate paid to domiciliary care staff.
Asked by Claire Sugden MLA on 25 November 2015
- Answered
- Written
- After due date
- Tabled
- 25 November 2015
- Answer due by
- 10 December 2015
- Answered
- 17 December 201522 days after tabling
- Department
- Department of Health
- Priority question
- No
Answer
Domiciliary care staff across the health and social care sector are paid at Agenda for Change (AfC) Band 2 and Band 3 rates. The pay point is dependent on the individual’s length of service. For example, for Band 2, pay point 1 the hourly rate equals £7.31 and for Band 2, pay point 6 it equals £8.91 (based on 2014/15 AfC pay award). These rates exceed those proposed in relation to the new National Living Wage effective April 2016.
I cannot comment on the hourly rate paid to staff employed by independent domiciliary care providers.